McNairy, Mendelsohn to star in ‘Cogan’s Trade’

Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn, the breakout stars of “Monsters” and “Animal Kingdom,” respectively, have signed on to star alongside Brad Pitt in Andrew Dominik’s crime caper pic “Cogan’s Trade.”

McNairy and Mendelsohn will play two young junkies who perpetrate a heist that takes place during a high-stakes poker game held under the protection of the mob.

McNairy has been in demand since 2008’s “In Search of a Midnight Kiss” won an Independent Spirit Award and the low-budget sci-fi pic “Monsters” grossed more than $3 million worldwide last year, propelling first-time director Gareth Edwards to Warner Bros.’ coveted “Godzilla” gig in the process.

McNairy in the mix to play Noomi Rapace’s love interest in 20th Century Fox’s “Prometheus,” having met with and read for director Ridley Scott several times, and Timur Bekmambetov is considering him for a key role in “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”